Metal framing-joint.



H. E. WHITE.

METAL FRAMING J0 INT.

APPLICATION ElLED AUG-26, 1914.

Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

En STATES FATE HERBERT E. warm, or YOUNGSTOWN, onrqnssronon TO THEGENERAL FIRE- rnoorme' COMPANY, or YOUNGSTOWN, 01110, A CORPORATION or01110.

METAL FRAMING-JOINT.

To all whom itmay concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT E. WHITE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Youngstown, in the county of Mahoning and State of Ohio,have invented certain new .and useful Improvements in Metal FramingJoints, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a novel and practical metal framing jointdesigned to permanently and rigidly unite, in a neat finish, the framemembers of metal struc tures employed in fireproof buildingconstruction, such as steel sashes and the like.

The'primary object of the invention is to provide amechanically-interlocked framing joint thatis simple and substantial,and

which may be easily formed and quickly assembled.

It is also the purpose of the invention to provide a construction ofjoint possessing great strength and rigidity, and one which may beeconomically manufactured Without sacrificing the advantages of eitherof these claimed. v

Apreferred andpractical embodiment of the invention is illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view ofthe me-' I tallic frame members of the joint about to be assembled. Fig.2 is a horizontal sectional view of the joint with the locking tongueclosed, the open position of the latter being indicated by dotted'lines.Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the joint, on the line 3-3 ofFig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective View of thecompleted joint.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughoutthe several figures of the drawings.

With particular reference to the details of construction shown in thedrawings, it will be observed from Fig. 1 that the frame memhers of theimproved joint are esaaiiiy "5" bars, and that the joint includes a mainSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 21, 1915..

Application filed August 26, 1914. Serial No. 858,733.

frame member 1 and oppositely 'arranged connecting ,frame members 2 and3 respectively. I

The main frame member 1 is provided in its body portion 4; with abendable locking tongue 5 which isfdisplaced from the body to provide akeeper hole 6. The abutment edge 7 of this hole which is opposite, thehinging point of the tongue 5 is preferably cut-away further after thetongue has been punched from the bar-body. This provides an accurate fitat the corners of the joint by leaving enough space between the saidabutment edge 7 and the cut end of thebendable locking tongue 5 toaccommodate the thickness of the locking elements of the oppositeconnecting frame members.

The connecting frame member 2 has its bar-body 10 projecting beyond theflange 11 thereof to form a locking ear 12 having therein a key-holemortise 13 consisting of the end 16 ofthe bar 12. The opposite cornersof the ear end 16 are notched as at 17 to permit the saidend 16 to abutwith the end shoulders 18 of the bar-body9 of the connecting frame.member 3. Also, the notches 17 interlock with opposite edges of the hole6 and thus take a firmabutment against one face of the bar-body 4 oftheframe member 1 and permit the end 16 of the ear 12 to-be flush withtheopposite face of the said barbody, as clearlyshown in Fig. 3 of thedraw-' mgs.

A pro ection 8 at one end of the bar-body '9 is formed with a lockingtenon 19 connecting with the body by a neck portion 20, thus having aform, as well as dimensions, corresponding to the key-hole mortise 13with which it registers. In this connection it will be observed that thetenon and'mortise 19 and 13 constitute substantially a dove-tail oint. 1

With the frame 'parts in the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings,the connecting frame member 2 is disposed in such relation to the mainframe member 1 that the ear end 16 may be placed within the keeper hole6 so that one face thereof is in contact with the abutment edge 7 of thebody a of the main frame member. in this position, the key-hole mortise13 is arranged to receive the locking tenon 19 of thebar projection Sand thus provide the dove-tail joint constituting the interlock betweenthe opposite frame members which meet in the keeper hole or opening 6.The width of the keeper hole is suflicient to permit the tenon l9 topassthe end of the ear 12 so "that the former may be pushed into registeringrelation with the key-hole mortise 13, thereby placing one side of theneck in contact with the abut: ment edge 7 of the hole '6 in the samemanner as one side face of the end 16 of the ear 12. When the connectingframe members.

' are thus interlocked, the bendable locking tongue 5 is forced backinto alinement with the bar body 4 so that its cut end forcibly outfurther description, and that minor de-v tails of construction anddesign may be re-- sorted to without departing from the spirit of theinvention or'sacrificin'g any of the advantages of the constructioncovered by the appended claims.

I claim: a j 1. A metal framing joint comprising a main frame member,including a bar portion provided with an opnin-gformed in it by abendable tongue, opposite frame members meeting in said opening andinterlocked therein by means of a dovetail joint,

said bendable tongue closing the remainder,

of said opening and preventing lateral relative displacement of theopposite frame members. a

2. A metalframing joint comprising a main frame member having a bendablelooking tongue displaced therefrom forming a 'keeper hole, and oppositeframe members connected by a dove-tail joint disposed within the hole,said bendable tongue having its cut end engaging the lateral faces ofthe interlocked ends of the connecting" frame members. 7

In-testimonywhereof I hereunto aifix my signature in the presence 'oftwo'witnesses.

HERBERT E. WHITE.

Witnesses:

' G. R. NAUMANN,

O. D. KAISER.

